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Monday, June 15 2009

GANDOLPH FINCH TAKES THE MORLUC PURSE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, June 14, 2009) – Team Kentucky’s Gandolph Finch, ridden by Leandro Goncalves, took the lead leaving the backstretch and cruised to a 1 ¾-length victory in Sunday’s featured $49,280 Morluc Purse at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Garry Simms, Gandolph Finch covered the five furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in :57.74 to record his fourth victory in 19 starts.

Churchill Downs Barn Notes (6.14.09)

STEWART BEAMING AFTER MACHO AGAIN’S FOSTER TRIUMPH – Trainer Dallas Stewart was all smiles Sunday morning as he accepted congratulations on the victory by West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again in Saturday’s $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

“He just wanted to win yesterday,” Stewart said of Macho Again, who provided the trainer with his second Grade I victory at Churchill Downs to go with Lemons Forever’s triumph in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (GI). “He is a well-accomplished horse. He has won on fast and wet tracks and won at Saratoga, Fair Grounds and here. This ought to close a lot of talk about him being an in and out horse.”

Sunday, June 14 2009

KEERTANA CAPS ALBARADO’S BIG DAY IN WINNING REGRET

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 13, 2009) – Barbara Hunter’s Keertana held off a late bid by The Best Day Ever by a neck to win Saturday’s 40th running of the $174,600 Regret (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs and top off a five-victory day for jockey Robby Albarado.

Trained by Tom Proctor, Keertana had given Albarado his 4,000th career victory on May 30. On Saturday, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Johar out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks gave Albarado a second stakes victory to go with his score aboard Macho Again in the Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

The track presented a check for $100,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure as part of the first-ever partnership between the worldwide breast cancer organization and the Kentucky Oaks, the historic race for 3-year-old fillies witnessed by 104,867 at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1.

Successful Dan Outduels Warrior’s Reward to Win Northern Dancer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 13, 2009) – Morton Fink’s Successful Dan outdueled Warrior’s Reward in a stretch-long battle by a head to win the 12th running of the $108,900 Northern Dancer (Grade III) for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Successful Dan reeled off fractions of :24.54, :48.63 and 1:13.01 with Warrior’s Reward and Calvin Borel lurking just behind in the field of six. Turning for home, Warrior’s Reward drew on even terms with Successful Dan but never could push on by as Successful Dan remained undefeated in three starts.

The track presented a check for $100,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure as part of the first-ever partnership between the worldwide breast cancer organization and the Kentucky Oaks, the historic race for 3-year-old fillies witnessed by 104,867 at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1.

MISS ISELLA SQUEEZES THROUGH TO WIN FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 13, 2009) – Elaine Jones’ Miss Isella squeezed through a narrow opening on the rail under Calvin Borel in the upper stretch and then fought off a challenge from Swift Temper to win Saturday’s 35th running of the $221,600 Fleur De Lis Handicap (Grade II) by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs.

Distinctive Dixie and Jesus Castanon set the pace in the race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up with fractions of :24.24, :48.18 and 1:12.07 with Santa Teresita stalking to her outside under Aaron Gryder and Borel a little further back tucked along the rail.

Churchill Downs Barn Notes (6.13.09)

CITIZEN JOHN DELIVERS MILESTONE DOWNS VICTORY FOR VANCE – Trainer David Vance and owner Carl Pollard have been a team for more than 15 years, so it was probably fitting that a Pollard-owned horse, Citizen John, presented the veteran trainer with his 300th triumph at Churchill Downs and his 3,012th win overall.

“That made it special,” Vance said Saturday morning. “He has always been a one of my major supporters and very much so lately.”

Friday, June 12 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, June 12, 2009) – Elaine Jones’ Guam Typhoon took the lead at the head of the stretch and held off Map of the World by 1 ¼ lengths to win Friday’s featured Vodika Collins Purse, named for the first winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap.

Also on Friday’s card, trainer David Vance and jockey Calvin Borel achieved Churchill Downs milestones with Vance saddling his 300th winner at the track and Borel posting his 926th win, second-most all time beneath the Twin Spires.

The $100,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the result of the fundraising partnership between the organization and the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks, America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies renewed for the 135th consecutive year at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1. Many of the 104,867 people who attended the race were dressed in Komen for the Cure’s signature shade of pink as Oaks fans were urged “Think Pink” to show support of the effort to find a cure of breast cancer.

Churchill Downs Barn Notes (6.12.09)

WOOLLEY CHARTS COURSE FOR MINE THAT BIRD: WEST VIRGINIA DERBY AND TRAVERS – Trainer Chip Woolley said Friday morning that the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) at Mountaineer Park would be the next start for Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird.

“The West Virginia Derby fits our schedule the best and that’s the main thing,” Woolley said. “From there we will go to the Travers with the ultimate goal being the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Shareholders and media representatives planning to attend the meeting may park in the preferred lot adjacent to Central Avenue and should enter Gate 1 of the facility located at 700 Central Avenue. The Jockey Club Suites elevators, located behind the Paddock Pavilion, should be utilized to access the meeting area. The Triple Crown Room is located on the fifth floor of the Jockey Club Suites.